What's the Difference?

저 (jeo) is the formal/polite way to say "I" in Korean, used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings. 나 (na) is the casual form, used with close friends and people younger than you.

Pronouns & Formality

미안해 (mianhae) is the casual way to say sorry in Korean, used with close friends and younger people. 죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida) is the formal and deeply respectful apology, used with elders, strangers, and in professional settings.

Apologies & Formality

안녕 (annyeong) is the casual way to say hello (and goodbye) in Korean, used with close friends. 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) is the standard polite greeting used with everyone else, including strangers, elders, and colleagues.

Greetings

고마워 (gomawo) is the casual way to say thank you in Korean, used with close friends and younger people. 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) is the formal and respectful form, appropriate for strangers, elders, and professional situations.

Gratitude & Formality

Korean has two number systems: Sino-Korean numbers (일, 이, 삼) are used for dates, money, phone numbers, and counting above 100. Native Korean numbers (하나, 둘, 셋) are used for counting objects with counters, hours, and ages.

Numbers & Counting

은/는 (eun/neun) is the topic marker that highlights what the sentence is about or contrasts information. 이/가 (i/ga) is the subject marker that identifies who or what performs the action, often introducing new information.

Particles & Grammar

존댓말 (jondaenmal) is Korean formal/polite speech used with elders, strangers, and in professional settings. 반말 (banmal) is casual speech used with close friends, younger people, and children. Choosing the wrong one can cause serious social misunderstandings.

Speech Levels & Formality

우리 (uri) means 'our/we' but is uniquely used in Korean where English would say 'my' — such as 우리 엄마 (our mom) or 우리 나라 (our country). 제 (je) is the formal possessive 'my' used when individual ownership needs to be clear.

Pronouns & Culture

뭐 (mwo) is the Korean word for 'what' and asks for an open-ended answer about identity or content. 어떤 (eotteon) means 'which' or 'what kind of' and asks about the type, quality, or selection from a group.

Question Words

같아 (gata) is the predicate (sentence-ending) form of 같다 meaning 'is the same' or 'seems like'. 같은 (gateun) is the modifier form that comes before a noun, meaning 'same' or 'like' — as in 같은 반 (same class) or 너 같은 사람 (a person like you).

Adjectives & Modifiers

Both mean 'older brother' but 오빠 is used by female speakers and 형 is used by male speakers.

Family & Address Terms

언니 is used by female speakers and 누나 is used by male speakers when addressing an older female.

Family & Address Terms

아빠 is the affectionate, everyday word for dad, while 아버지 is the respectful formal term used in serious or public contexts.

Family & Address Terms

엄마 is the warm, everyday term for mom, while 어머니 is the formal and respectful term used in public or polite situations.

Family & Address Terms

선배 refers to someone more senior in experience or enrollment, while 후배 refers to someone junior who came after you.

Korean Culture

사랑해 expresses deep romantic or familial love, while 좋아해 expresses liking someone and is often used as a romantic confession at an earlier stage.

Emotions & Feelings

남자친구 specifically refers to a male romantic partner (boyfriend), while 애인 is a gender-neutral term for any romantic partner or lover.

Relationships

행복하다 describes a lasting state of happiness or contentment, while 기쁘다 describes an immediate feeling of joy or gladness triggered by a specific event.

Emotions & Feelings

화나다 describes genuine anger or feeling wronged, while 짜증나다 describes irritation or annoyance at minor frustrations.

Emotions & Feelings

외롭다 is the direct feeling of loneliness from lacking companionship, while 쓸쓸하다 describes a quieter, more atmospheric sense of emptiness or melancholy.

Emotions & Feelings

부럽다 is envy — wanting what someone else has — while 질투나다 is jealousy — a possessive, threatened feeling toward a rival.

Emotions & Feelings

무섭다 describes immediate fear or fright at something present, while 두렵다 describes a deeper dread or apprehension about something anticipated or uncertain.

Emotions & Feelings

보고 싶다 focuses on the desire to see someone again, while 그립다 expresses a deeper, often wistful longing for someone or something from the past.

Emotions & Feelings

천만에요 is a formal 'you're welcome' often used in service contexts, while 별말씀을요 is a humble, modest response meaning 'don't mention it' in polite conversation.

Polite Expressions

할머니 refers to the paternal grandmother (father's mother), while 외할머니 refers to the maternal grandmother (mother's mother), with 외 (outside/maternal) marking the distinction.

Family & Address Terms

에 (e) marks a static location or a destination (where something is or goes), while 에서 (eseo) marks the location where an action actively takes place, or a physical starting point.

Korean Particles

한테 (hante) and 에게 (ege) are functionally identical — both mean "to" or "from" a person — but 한테 is used in casual spoken Korean while 에게 is reserved for formal or written contexts.

Korean Particles

도 (do) is an inclusive particle meaning "also," "too," or "even," adding the noun to a set, while 만 (man) is an exclusive particle meaning "only" or "just," restricting to a single element.

Korean Particles

까지 (kkaji) marks the endpoint or deadline of time or space ("until" or "up to"), while 동안 (dongan) expresses how long something lasts ("for" or "during" a period).

Korean Particles

부터 (buteo) marks the starting point of time or an ordered sequence ("starting from"), while 에서 (eseo) marks the physical location you are departing from.

Korean Particles

와/과 (wa/gwa) and 하고 (hago) both connect nouns meaning "and" or "with," but 와/과 belongs to formal and written Korean while 하고 is the natural choice in spoken, everyday conversation.

Korean Particles

을/를 (eul/reul) marks the object of a verb — the thing that receives the action — while 이/가 (i/ga) marks the subject — the person or thing performing or being described by the verb.

Korean Particles

네 (ne) is the standard polite way to say "yes" in Korean, appropriate in most social contexts, while 응 (eung) is the casual, intimate version used only with close friends, family, or people younger than you.

Basic Expressions

아니요 (aniyo) is the standard polite form of "no" used in most social settings, while 아니 (ani) is the casual form restricted to close friends, family, or informal speech (반말).

Basic Expressions

그런데 (geunde) can shift the topic or introduce a mild contrast or new information, while 하지만 (hajiman) expresses a direct contrast or opposition between two ideas.

Conjunctions

그래서 (geuraeseo) connects a cause to its result meaning "so" or "therefore," while 그러니까 (geureonikka) draws a logical conclusion or clarifies a point already made, often meaning "that's why" or "so what I mean is."

Conjunctions

만약 (manyak) introduces a clear hypothetical or conditional scenario meaning "if," while 혹시 (hoksi) politely hedges a question or statement meaning "by any chance" or "perhaps," without necessarily setting up a full conditional.

Conjunctions

아직 (ajik) expresses that a state continues or an action has not happened yet, while 벌써 (beolsseo) expresses that something has happened sooner than expected, equivalent to "already."

Time Expressions

그리고 (geurigo) is the common spoken conjunction meaning "and" or "and then," connecting sentences casually, while 또한 (ttohan) is a formal additive adverb meaning "also" or "furthermore," used mainly in writing.

Conjunctions

으로/로 (euro/ro) indicates direction or movement toward something, the means or tool used, or a transformation into something, while 에 (e) simply marks the endpoint destination or a static location.

Korean Particles

가다 (gada) means to move away from the speaker's location, while 오다 (oda) means to move toward the speaker's location.

Korean Verbs

좋다 is a descriptive adjective meaning 'to be good/nice,' while 좋아하다 is an action verb meaning 'to like,' used when expressing an active feeling toward something.

Korean Verbs

싫다 expresses an involuntary feeling that something is unpleasant or unwanted, while 싫어하다 expresses an active, habitual dislike of something.

Korean Verbs

하다 indicates an active action performed by the subject, while 되다 indicates a passive change, result, or becoming that happens to the subject.

Korean Verbs

말하다 means to speak or say something in one direction, while 이야기하다 means to have a conversation or exchange stories with someone.

Korean Verbs

배우다 means to learn something — usually a skill or concept — through exposure or instruction, while 공부하다 means to study deliberately, typically through books or structured practice.

Korean Verbs

주다 is the plain form of 'to give' used among equals or when giving to someone of lower status, while 드리다 is the honorific form used when giving to someone of higher social status.

Korean Verbs

빨리 describes the speed at which something is done (quickly/fast), while 일찍 describes the timing of an action relative to an expected time (early).

Adverbs

항상 means always, implying something happens every time without exception, while 자주 means often or frequently, implying high but not absolute regularity.

Adverbs

가끔 means sometimes or occasionally in everyday speech, while 때때로 carries the same meaning but sounds more formal or literary and is less common in casual conversation.

Adverbs

지금 refers to the present moment (now), while 방금 refers to something that happened a very short time ago (just now / just a moment ago).

Time Expressions

곧 means something will happen soon or in a short while, while 나중에 means later or at some unspecified future time, without implying immediacy.

Time Expressions

오늘 refers to the specific current calendar day (today), while 요즘 refers to a recent period of time spanning days or weeks (these days / lately).

Time Expressions

알다 means to possess existing knowledge about something, while 알아보다 means to actively find out, look into, or investigate something you don't yet know.

Korean Verbs

쓰다 is a versatile word meaning to use, to write, or to taste bitter depending on context, while 사용하다 always and exclusively means to use something, in a formal or official sense.

Korean Verbs

찌개 (jjigae) is a thick, intensely flavored stew cooked and served communally in a clay pot, while 국 (guk) is a lighter, thinner soup served individually in a bowl as part of a Korean meal.

Korean Food

김치찌개 (kimchi jjigae) is a spicy, tangy stew built around fermented kimchi and pork, while 된장찌개 (doenjang jjigae) is a savory, earthy stew made with fermented soybean paste, tofu, and vegetables.

Korean Food

삼겹살 (samgyeopsal) is thick, unmarinated pork belly grilled at the table, while 갈비 (galbi) refers to marinated beef or pork short ribs that are sweeter and more seasoned.

Korean Food

막걸리 (makgeolli) is a cloudy, mildly sweet traditional rice wine with low alcohol content, while 소주 (soju) is a clear, higher-alcohol distilled spirit and the most consumed alcoholic drink in Korea.

Korean Food

비빔밥 (bibimbap) is a bowl of rice topped with arranged vegetables, egg, and gochujang that you mix together at the table, while 볶음밥 (bokkeumbap) is fried rice that has already been stir-fried with oil in a hot pan.

Korean Food

불고기 (bulgogi) uses thinly sliced beef marinated in a sweet soy-based sauce and cooked quickly, while 갈비구이 (galbi gui) uses bone-in short ribs with a similar marinade but grilled longer for a smoky, caramelized char.

Korean Food

반찬 (banchan) are small side dishes served alongside rice at a regular Korean meal, while 안주 (anju) are food items eaten specifically while drinking alcohol, often richer and more indulgent.

Korean Food

라면 (ramyeon) refers to Korean-style instant noodles cooked in a spicy powder-based broth, while 라멘 (ramen) refers to Japanese ramen featuring slow-cooked rich broths and fresh noodles.

Korean Food

아이돌 (idol) specifically refers to a K-pop entertainer trained in singing, dancing, and performance who typically debuted through an entertainment agency, while 가수 (gasu) simply means "singer" and applies to any musician who performs vocals.

K-Culture

드라마 (drama) refers to a Korean television drama series — typically 16 episodes aired over weeks — while 영화 (yeonghwa) refers to a film or movie shown in cinemas or on streaming as a single feature.

K-Culture

만화 (manhwa) refers to Korean comics, which are read left to right and are commonly published in full color especially as webtoons, while 망가 (manga) refers to Japanese comics, which are read right to left and are traditionally published in black and white.

K-Culture

학원 (hagwon) is a private after-school academy where students pay for additional instruction in subjects like math, English, or music, while 학교 (hakgyo) refers to any formal regular school — elementary through high school.

Korean Life

한글 (hangeul) is the name of the Korean alphabet — the writing system invented in 1443 by King Sejong — while 한국어 (hangugeo) is the full Korean language, encompassing vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and all linguistic aspects.

Korean Language

케이팝 (K-pop) refers specifically to Korean pop music and its idol system, while 한류 (Hallyu, the Korean Wave) is the broader global spread of all Korean culture — including music, dramas, film, food, beauty, and fashion.

K-Culture

밥 (bap) literally means cooked rice but is also used colloquially to mean any meal, while 음식 (eumsik) is the general word for food encompassing all types of dishes and ingredients.

Korean Food

주세요 is the polite request form used with strangers, elders, and in service settings, while 줘 is the casual equivalent reserved for close friends or people younger than you.

Formality & Speech

있어요 is the polite present-tense form of 있다 used in most everyday conversations, while 있어 is the casual form used only with close friends or people younger than you.

Formality & Speech

없어요 is the polite way to say "there isn't" or "I don't have" in Korean, used in formal and everyday settings, while 없어 is its casual counterpart for use with close friends.

Formality & Speech

가시다 is the honorific form of the verb 가다 (to go), used when referring to elders, teachers, or superiors, while 가다 is the plain base form used in neutral or self-referential speech.

Korean Honorifics

드세요 is the honorific form used when offering food to or speaking about elders and superiors eating, while 먹어 is the casual command used only with close friends or younger people.

Korean Honorifics

계시다 is the honorific subject-elevating verb meaning "to be/exist" used specifically for respected people, while 있어요 is polite but plain and used for yourself, peers, or objects.

Korean Honorifics

살 is the native Korean counter for years of age used in casual speech, while 세 is the Sino-Korean counter used in formal, written, and official contexts like documents or news.

Korean Counters

번 is a counter used for the number of times something happens or for ordinal sequences, while 개 is the general all-purpose counter for counting physical objects and items.

Korean Counters

너무 originally meant "too much" (excess), but in modern spoken Korean it is widely used as a positive intensifier like "so," while 매우 is a neutral, formal word meaning "very" without any implication of excess.

Adverbs

조금 is the more natural and versatile word for "a little" used across all spoken situations, while 약간 conveys a slightly smaller or more precise degree and is more common in formal or written Korean.

Adverbs

아주 is always a straightforward positive intensifier meaning "very" or "quite," while 너무 is a stronger and more expressive intensifier that traditionally implies excess but is now widely used positively in modern Korean.

Adverbs

크다 describes something as physically large in size, shape, or scale, while 많다 describes a large number or amount of something and is never used for physical dimensions.

Korean Adjectives

작다 describes something as physically small in size or dimension, while 적다 describes a small number or amount of something and is the opposite of 많다.

Korean Adjectives

어렵다 describes something as objectively difficult or complex in nature, while 힘들다 describes something as hard because it drains you physically, mentally, or emotionally.

Korean Adjectives

필요하다 means something is needed or necessary, and implies a practical or objective requirement, while 원하다 means to want or desire something based on personal wish or preference.

Korean Verbs

덥다 (deopda) describes hot air or weather you feel around you, while 뜨겁다 (tteugeopda) describes something physically hot that you can touch, like food, coffee, or a surface.

Korean Adjectives

춥다 (chupda) describes unpleasantly cold air or weather, while 시원하다 (siwonhada) describes a pleasant, refreshing coolness that feels good.

Korean Adjectives

맞다 (matda) means to be correct or right, while 맛있다 (masissda) means to be delicious — they look and sound similar but are completely unrelated in meaning.

Common Confusions

안 돼 (andwae) means something is not permitted or possible, while 아니요 (aniyo) is a plain negative response meaning 'no.'

Common Confusions

괜찮아 (gwaenchanha) and 괜찮아요 (gwaenchanayo) both mean 'it's okay,' but 괜찮아 is casual speech for close friends while 괜찮아요 is polite speech for strangers, seniors, or formal settings.

Formality & Speech

몰라요 (mollayo) is the polite form of 'I don't know,' used with strangers, seniors, and in formal contexts, while 몰라 (molla) is the casual form used among close friends.

Formality & Speech

어떻게 (eotteokhge) is an adverb asking about manner or method ('how'), while 어떤 (eotteon) is an adjective asking about type or quality ('what kind of').

Question Words

왜 (wae) is the everyday, direct way to ask 'why' in Korean, while 어째서 (eottaeseyo) is a more formal and literary form of 'why' used in writing, speeches, and serious questioning.

Question Words

보다 (boda) is the active verb meaning 'to see or look,' while 보이다 (boida) is its passive form meaning 'to be visible' or 'to be seen' — the subject is seen, not the one doing the seeing.

Korean Verbs

듣다 (deutda) is the active verb for hearing or listening, while 들리다 (deullida) is the passive form meaning a sound is heard or something is audible.

Korean Verbs

~고 싶다 (go sipta) is attached to a verb stem to express wanting to do an action, while 원하다 (wonhada) is used with nouns to express wanting a thing or outcome.

Korean Verbs

예쁘다 (yebboda) is the standard and officially correct spelling of 'to be pretty' in Korean, while 이쁘다 (ippeuda) is a widely used colloquial variant with the same meaning but is not recognized in standard dictionaries.

Common Confusions

화이팅 (hwaiting) is a Konglish cheer meaning 'you've got this!' used as an exclamation, while 응원해 (eungwonhae) is a native Korean expression meaning 'I'm rooting for you / I support you.'

Korean Expressions

오늘 (oneul) refers to the specific calendar day of today, while 이제 (ije) marks a shift in time — meaning 'now,' 'at this point,' or 'from now on.'

Time Expressions

집 (jip) is the general Korean word for 'home' or any place you live, while 아파트 (apateu) refers specifically to apartment buildings — the most dominant form of housing in modern Korea.

Korean Life

아기 (agi) means an actual baby, infant, or little child. 자기야 (jagiya) is the natural affectionate term for a romantic partner, closer to 'baby', 'honey', or 'babe' in English.

Relationships

어서 오세요 is the natural greeting when someone enters a shop, restaurant, home, or class. 환영합니다 is a formal 'welcome' used for events, announcements, signs, and official messages.

Greetings

아니에요 is often the more natural everyday reply to thanks, meaning 'not at all' or 'it's nothing.' 천만에요 is correct but can sound formal, textbook-like, or uncommon in casual modern Korean.

Greetings